[R] meta-analysis, outcome = OR associated with a continuous independent variable

[Viechtbauer Wolfgang (STAT)]

You can get an OR from a 2x2 table (which is equivalent to doing logistic regression with a single dummy variable that indicates the group) or from some continuous exposure (where the logistic regression model will then include that continuous variable). The various packages are set up to accept counts for 2x2 tables and then will compute the OR (or rather, log(OR)) for you. If you have ORs from the second case, you simply calculate the log(ORs) yourself and supply them to the appropriate function from the packages.

Best,

Wolfgang

> -----Original Message-----
> From: MP.Sylvestre at gmail.com [mailto:MP.Sylvestre at gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 15:23
> To: Viechtbauer Wolfgang (STAT); Marie-Pierre Sylvestre
> Cc: r-help at r-project.org; Thomas Lumley
> Subject: Re: RE: [R] meta-analysis, outcome = OR associated with a
> continuous independent variable
> 
> For some reason I was under the false impression that these packages were
> made for meta-analyses of RCT-like studies in which two groups are
> compared. I am glad to see that I was wrong and that I can use one of
> these packages.
> 
> All studies reported using the same units for the exposure so the OR are
> comparable.
> 
> Thanks for your responses,
> MP